Morton L. Janklow
Encyclopedia
Morton Janklow is the primary partner in Janklow & Nesbit Associates, the largest literary agency
in the world. Clients include Barbara Taylor Bradford
, Judith Krantz
, Danielle Steel
, Sidney Sheldon
, Thomas Harris
, Barbara Walters
, Anne Rice
, four U.S. presidents, and Pope John Paul II
.
After years as a corporate lawyer, Morton L. Janklow became a literary agent in 1972, when his friend and client William Safire asked him to handle a book he was writing about President Nixon.
Mr. Janklow created tremendous attention for the book by requiring editors to come to his office and not allowing any pages to leave the room. “We ended up getting a huge sum, unheard of at the time for nonfiction,” he recalls. He also ushered in a new era in authors’ rights when he successfully sued publisher William Morrow for trying to renege on the deal. “They said, ‘You can’t force a publisher to print a book; that’s never been done,’ ” Mr. Janklow remembers. “We took the publisher out of the captain’s seat and put the author in it. The publisher is replaceable; the author is not.” “A lot of my colleagues are worried about the Internet,” he says. “I’m not. I don’t care how many highways they build. I will decide which highway is the best and how much it will cost for my cars to drive on that highway. The increased distribution channels can only be good for intellectual property.
” Another version of this story emphasizes Janklow's role in changing the standard publishing agreement to being more fair for authors. Janklow is quoted as saying "I'm not trying to force the publisher to publish the book. I'm just trying to force the publisher to pay for it."
Morton L. Janklow graduated in 1950 from Syracuse University. He earned his law degree from Columbia in 1953. He is married to Linda, the granddaughter of Harry Warner
and the daughter of Mervyn LeRoy
Janklow is a partner with the law firm Janklow, Newborn & Ashley in New York city. In 1982 he founded the Morton L. Janklow Program for Advocacy in the Arts at Columbia and later established the Morton L. Janklow Professorship of Literary and Artistic Property Law. Mr. Janklow also teaches in the program. Janklow's current partnership with Lynn Nesbit, Janklow & Nesbit Associates, was formed on Jan. 2, 1988.
Literary agent
A literary agent is an agent who represents writers and their written works to publishers, theatrical producers and film producers and assists in the sale and deal negotiation of the same. Literary agents most often represent novelists, screenwriters and major non-fiction writers...
in the world. Clients include Barbara Taylor Bradford
Barbara Taylor Bradford
Barbara Taylor Bradford OBE is an English novelist, and one of the world's most beloved storytellers. Her debut novel, A Woman of Substance, was published in 1979 and has sold over 32 million copies worldwide. To date, she has written 27 novels -- all bestsellers on both sides of the Atlantic...
, Judith Krantz
Judith Krantz
Judith Krantz , is an American novelist who writes in the romance genre. Her works include Scruples, Princess Daisy, and Till We Meet Again.-Early years:...
, Danielle Steel
Danielle Steel
Danielle Fernandes Dominique Schuelein-Steel , better known as Danielle Steel, is an American romantic novelist and author of mainstream dramas....
, Sidney Sheldon
Sidney Sheldon
Sidney Sheldon was an Academy Award-winning American writer. His TV works spanned a 20-year period during which he created The Patty Duke Show , I Dream of Jeannie and Hart to Hart , but he became most famous after he turned 50 and began writing best-selling novels such as Master of the Game ,...
, Thomas Harris
Thomas Harris
Thomas Harris is an American author and screenwriter, best known for a series of suspense novels about his most famous character, Hannibal Lecter...
, Barbara Walters
Barbara Walters
Barbara Jill Walters is an American broadcast journalist, author, and television personality. She has hosted morning television shows , the television newsmagazine , former co-anchor of the ABC Evening News, and current contributor to ABC News.Walters was first known as a popular TV morning news...
, Anne Rice
Anne Rice
Anne Rice is a best-selling Southern American author of metaphysical gothic fiction, Christian literature and erotica from New Orleans, Louisiana. Her books have sold nearly 100 million copies, making her one of the most widely read authors in modern history...
, four U.S. presidents, and Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
.
After years as a corporate lawyer, Morton L. Janklow became a literary agent in 1972, when his friend and client William Safire asked him to handle a book he was writing about President Nixon.
Mr. Janklow created tremendous attention for the book by requiring editors to come to his office and not allowing any pages to leave the room. “We ended up getting a huge sum, unheard of at the time for nonfiction,” he recalls. He also ushered in a new era in authors’ rights when he successfully sued publisher William Morrow for trying to renege on the deal. “They said, ‘You can’t force a publisher to print a book; that’s never been done,’ ” Mr. Janklow remembers. “We took the publisher out of the captain’s seat and put the author in it. The publisher is replaceable; the author is not.” “A lot of my colleagues are worried about the Internet,” he says. “I’m not. I don’t care how many highways they build. I will decide which highway is the best and how much it will cost for my cars to drive on that highway. The increased distribution channels can only be good for intellectual property.
” Another version of this story emphasizes Janklow's role in changing the standard publishing agreement to being more fair for authors. Janklow is quoted as saying "I'm not trying to force the publisher to publish the book. I'm just trying to force the publisher to pay for it."
Morton L. Janklow graduated in 1950 from Syracuse University. He earned his law degree from Columbia in 1953. He is married to Linda, the granddaughter of Harry Warner
Harry Warner
Harry Morris Warner was an American studio executive, one of the founders of Warner Bros., and a major contributor to the development of the film industry. Along with his three brothers Warner played a crucial role in the film business and played a key role in establishing Warner Bros...
and the daughter of Mervyn LeRoy
Mervyn LeRoy
Mervyn LeRoy was an American film director, producer and sometime actor.-Early life:Born to Jewish parents in San Francisco, California, his family was financially ruined by the 1906 earthquake...
Janklow is a partner with the law firm Janklow, Newborn & Ashley in New York city. In 1982 he founded the Morton L. Janklow Program for Advocacy in the Arts at Columbia and later established the Morton L. Janklow Professorship of Literary and Artistic Property Law. Mr. Janklow also teaches in the program. Janklow's current partnership with Lynn Nesbit, Janklow & Nesbit Associates, was formed on Jan. 2, 1988.